WCMRC tests response capacity in Gulf Islands exercise

WCMRC tests response capacity in Gulf Islands exercise

10Jun

Posted onby
Michael Lowry

WCMRC has wrapped-up a large-scale oil spill exercise in Plumper Sound between Pender and Saturna Islands. The one-day, on-water exercise is designed to test WCMRC’s ability to respond to a 2,500 tonne oil spill. The exercise is held every two years as part of a Transport Canada required certification program.

As part of the exercise, equipment and vessels from WCMRC’s South Coast and Vancouver Island fleets deployed to the simulated spill. The exercise involved 20 vessels (skimming vessels, response vessels and barges), boom, sweep systems and 70 personnel. Overflights were conducted by Transport Canada’s National Aerial Surveillance Plane and WCMRC aerostats and drones were activated for situational awareness.